The concerts benefit the Bridge School in Hillsborough, CA, which serves severely speech-impaired children in the Bay Area. Young's wife, Pegi, and Jim Forderer -- both parents of children with severe speech and physical impairments -- co-founded the school in 1986 along with Dr. Marilyn Buzolich.

The first benefit concert took place that same year and, with the exception of 1987, has been held every year since.